Delhi HC to hear petition seeking Kejriwal’s release from jail

New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Monday agreed to hear a petition seeking immediate release of former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was sent to jail after he refused to furnish bail bond in a criminal defamation case against him.

The petition stated that Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody on a wrong assumption of the law.

Kejriwal's lawyers presented the matter before a division bench of Justice BD Ahmed and Justice Sidharth Mridul for urgent hearing. The court posted the matter for Tuesday.

Kejriwal, who was produced before a Delhi court on Friday in connection with the defamation case filed against him by former BJP president Nitin Gadkari, was sent to 14 days judicial custody after he yet again refused to furnish the bail bond.

Kejriwal was sent to Tihar Jail after he refused to pay the bail bond of Rs 10,000.

According to sources, while the lower court insisted on furnishing of a bail bond, Kejriwal offered to give an undertaking to ensure his appearance before the court as and when called. However, Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha rejected his interpretation of the law and sent him to judicial custody.

Aam Aadmi Party had earlier termed the court’s decision to send Kejriwal to jail as ‘erroneous’ and said there was no provision in the law, which makes it mandatory for a defendant in a defamation case to furnish a bail bond when he is willing to remain present for hearing.